The original Navy SEALs

The US Navy SEALs have roots in WWII, but they were formally formed in the early 60s during the Vietnam conflict

February 10, 2013 2:26 PM

Photo: Uncredited/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Image 1of/14

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 14

The US Navy SEALs have a rich history, but they were formally formed in the early 60s during the Vietnam conflict.

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

The US Navy SEALs have a rich history, but they were formally formed in the early 60s during the Vietnam conflict.

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

The US Navy SEALs have a rich history, but they were formally... Photo-4169676.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 2 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal... Photo-4169675.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 3 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal... Photo-4169677.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 4 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal Team moves down a jungle river bank on a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic in Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal Team moves down a jungle river bank on a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic in Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal... Photo-4169678.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 5 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal... Photo-4169679.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 6 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal... Photo-4169680.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 7 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal... Photo-4169681.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 8 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team move down a jungle river bank on a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic in Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team move down a jungle river bank on a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic in Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal... Photo-4169682.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 9 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal Team shown in a converted "mike" boat as it pulls toward a jungle river bank for a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic in Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal Team shown in a converted "mike" boat as it pulls toward a jungle river bank for a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic in ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal... Photo-4169683.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 10 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal Team shown in a converted "mike" boat as it pulls toward a jungle river bank for a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic in Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal Team shown in a converted "mike" boat as it pulls toward a jungle river bank for a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic in ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal... Photo-4169684.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 11 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal Team shown in a converted "mike" boat as it pulls toward a jungle river bank for a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic in Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal Team shown in a converted "mike" boat as it pulls toward a jungle river bank for a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic in ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, member of U.S. Navy Seal... Photo-4169685.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 12 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal Team One move down the Bassac River in a Seal Team Assault Boat (STAB) during operations in south of Saigon, Vietnam in January 1969. (AP ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, members of U.S. Navy Seal... Photo-4169686.56567 - Houston Chronicle

Image 13 of 14

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, a well armed converted ìmikeî boat pulls toward a jungle river bank to dispatch a platoon of Navy seals on a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic in Vietnam in January 1969. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy) less

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, a well armed converted ìmikeî boat pulls toward a jungle river bank to dispatch a platoon of Navy seals on a search and destroy operation in the Mekong Delta Republic ... more

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, a well armed converted... Photo-4169687.56567 - Houston Chronicle